Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Stability Employee Wellness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District wellness presentation: staff wellness initiative and report of more than 300 students experiencing homelessness
Summary
The Colonial School Districtdivision of health and wellness presented a '2e We Care'2 program that included an employee wellness champions initiative and a McKinney-Vento update noting "over 300 students experiencing homelessness," along with concerns about food insecurity and localized safety issues at a motel on Route 9.
John Cooper, co-facilitator for the Colonial School Districtdivision of health and wellness, co-led a May 6 presentation that connected student needs and staff wellness and introduced the district'We Care' conversation to the board.
The presentation matters because it combined a count of students experiencing homelessness, a description of food and housing instability that affects student learning, and a new employee wellness initiative aimed at reducing staff stress and improving retention.
Cooper introduced Ed, the district staff member in charge of McKinney-Vento and foster-care services, who said during the demonstration: "Currently, in Colonial, we have over 300 students experiencing homelessness as of this morning." Cooper and Ed used a physical "invisible backpack" exercise to show the cumulative burden of housing instability, motel stays, food insecurity and other stressors.
Ed described food insecurity in the district and the practical challenges families face, including lack of refrigeration and access to healthy foods, which can push households toward prepackaged, less nutritious options. He also raised safety concerns tied to a motel on the Route 9 corridor and said the district has observed persistent issues there; the presentation did not provide formal crime statistics for the motel.
Dr. Sherry Woodall and Dr. Jennifer Alexander joined Cooper in the presentation. Dr. Jennifer Alexander described results of an employee wellness and mental health survey that prompted the creation of an employee wellness champions program; the champion role is a voluntary, staff-led effort to promote well-being in the workplace across purpose, social, financial, physical and community domains.
Cooper reminded the board that the district had previously adopted a wellness policy several years ago; presenters framed the current work as an extension of that policy and a response to survey results showing staff leave and wellness concerns. Board members participated in a short activity that placed well-being statements into categories and asked staff to consider which elements of wellness to prioritize.
No formal board action was taken. Presenters asked board members to note the reported homelessness count and the new staff wellness work group as items that will inform ongoing efforts to support students and employees.
